. >> it's going to kill us. i mean, because, you know, everybody that would come visit the atlantic beach for labor day week send now going to be looking at the exact same forecast that we see. >> reporter: at hardware stores, up and down the carolina coast -- >> gas cans. flashlights. batteries. >> reporter: the customers were anxious. the stores were busy and running out of generators and other supplies. >> we just bought a radio, portable radio. and tv. >> reporter: everyone here is watching this storm closely tonight, crossing their fingers, hoping it jogs to the east. diane? >> all right, steve. and from steve osunsami, we go to sam champion, who is in cedar point, north carolina, tonight, tracking earl. and sam, what about that possibility there could be a high pressure system that blocks the storm and knock it back out into the ocean? >> reporter: diane, two things happened today. and one of them was that cold front that's going to eventually steer earl slowed down today. but earl slowed down today, too.